Ditransitive

Definition

A ditransitive verb is a type of verb that requires two objects to complete its meaning: a direct object and an indirect object. This structure enables the verb to convey actions involving the transfer of something from one entity to another, such as giving, sending, or showing. Understanding ditransitive verbs is crucial for grasping how verb phrases are formed and how complements function within them.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ditransitive verbs can be identified by their ability to take both a direct and an indirect object, as in 'She gave him a book.'
2. Common examples of ditransitive verbs include 'give,' 'send,' 'show,' and 'tell.'
3. In English, the indirect object often appears before the direct object when no preposition is used, making structures like 'He gave her a gift' possible.
4. When using prepositions, the indirect object typically follows the direct object, as in 'He gave a gift to her.'
5. Understanding ditransitive verbs helps clarify sentence structure and the relationships between different parts of speech within a verb phrase.

Review Questions

• How does the structure of a ditransitive verb differ from that of transitive and intransitive verbs?
  • Ditransitive verbs require both a direct object and an indirect object to complete their meaning, while transitive verbs only need one direct object. In contrast, intransitive verbs do not need any objects at all. For example, in the sentence 'She gave him a book,' 'gave' is ditransitive because it has both 'him' (indirect object) and 'book' (direct object), whereas in 'She reads,' the verb is intransitive since it has no objects.
• Discuss how the placement of indirect and direct objects changes in sentences with ditransitive verbs when using prepositions.
  • In sentences using ditransitive verbs without prepositions, the indirect object typically comes before the direct object, as seen in 'He gave her a letter.' However, when prepositions are used, such as 'to' or 'for,' the order shifts. For example, you would say 'He gave a letter to her,' where the direct object 'letter' comes first, followed by the preposition and then the indirect object. This highlights how sentence structure can vary while conveying similar meanings.
• Evaluate the importance of recognizing ditransitive verbs in understanding complex sentence structures and relationships between elements in English grammar.
  • Recognizing ditransitive verbs is essential for understanding complex sentence structures because they illustrate how actions can involve multiple entities. This recognition allows for better comprehension of how ideas are expressed and helps clarify relationships between subjects, actions, and objects. By analyzing sentences containing ditransitive verbs, one can gain insights into how complements function within verb phrases and how meaning is conveyed through different grammatical constructions.

Related terms

transitive: A transitive verb requires one object to complete its meaning, typically a direct object that receives the action of the verb.

intransitive: An intransitive verb does not take an object, meaning it expresses an action that does not directly affect a receiver.

object complement:

An object complement is a noun or adjective that follows and modifies or renames a direct object, often used with certain verbs to provide additional information.